The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

Online Course

The University of Edinburgh

Future Learn

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The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

What is the course about?
Prerequisites & Facts
Cost, Certificate & Degree
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What is the course about?

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

The course The Discovery of the Higgs Boson is an online class provided by The University of Edinburgh through Future Learn. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Should we be excited about the Higgs boson? Find out more about particle physics and understanding the universe.

Course description

7 weeks

The discovery of a new fundamental particle at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CERN is the latest step in a long quest seeking to answer one of physics’ most enduring questions: why do particles have mass? The experiments’ much anticipated success confirms predictions made decades earlier by Peter Higgs and others, and offers a glimpse into a universe of physics beyond the Standard Model.
As Professor Peter Higgs continues his inspiring role at Edinburgh University’s School of Physics & Astronomy, the experiments at the LHC continue.
This free online course introduces the theoretical tools needed to appreciate the discovery, and presents the elementary particles that have been discovered at the tiniest scales ever explored. Beginning with basic concepts in classical mechanics, the story unfolds through relativity and quantum mechanics, describing forces, matter and the unification of theories with an understanding driven by the tools of mathematics.
Narrating the journey through experimental results which led to the discovery in 2012, the course invites you to learn from a team of world-class physicists at Edinburgh University. Learners participate in discussion of the consequences of the Higgs boson, to physics and cosmology, and towards a stronger understanding and new description of the universe.
Photo of Professor Higgs © Peter Tuffy, The University of Edinburgh

Theoretical description of physical phenomena
From Maxwell to Einstein: the world at the atomic scale
A theory of matter and light
From QED to QCD and the weak force
The Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism and the Standard Model
Experimental evidence for the Standard Model
Beyond the Standard Model

Discuss fundamental building blocks of the Standard Model
Explore Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity
Describe elementary Particle Physics

The course for its most part requires a basic level of mathematical skills, at the level of a final-year school pupil.
Some of the video lectures are significantly more advanced and include University-level math material. However, people encountering difficulties with the most advanced material should still be able to answer the quizzes and complete the course successfully. A basic knowledge of physics is helpful, but not required.

The University of Edinburgh
Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top universities and is globally recognised for research, innovation and high-quality teaching.

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Prerequisites & Facts

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

Course Topic

Physics, Science, Engineering & Maths

University, College, Institution

The University of Edinburgh

Course Skill Level

see course summary

Course Language

English

Place of class

Online, self-paced (see curriculum for more information)

Degree

Certificate

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Degree & Cost

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

To obtain a verified certificate from Future Learn / The University of Edinburgh you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate or to access the learning materials. The specifics of the course may have been changed, please consult the provider to get the latest quotes and news.

The University of Edinburgh

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson

provided by Future Learn

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